A recent report from the Department of Revenue had a number of recommendations regarding how to improve government operations, specifically but not exclusively around financial management. (See related post here.). Two recommendations complemented each other: Centralizing authority in town hall, expanding office of Town Administrator to manage day to day affairs and expanding the board for selectmen from 3 members to 5.

The report states:

An expanded number of selectmen creates greater oversight of the town administrator position and broadens resident representation on the board. The board will therefore have greater capacity to explore issues by allocating responsibilities to more members and decisions will be more thorough because two additional perspectives are present. Also, because winning a majority of three, versus two votes, is more difficult, the prospects increase for greater collaboration; and with no more than two members elected each year, the board will experience greater stability and continuity. One possible downside is that meetings could be longer.

What do you think?

[poll id=”9″]